Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell, or simply Kurzgesagt, is a German YouTube channel that produces educational animation videos that attempt to explain complex topics in some depth, but in a format that is accessible to non-specialist audiences. The format generally consists of a voice-over, which is done by Steve Taylor on the main channel that explains the topic at hand, as well as animation for visual aid. The subject matter varies widely and includes scientific concepts, anthropology, current events, and philosophy, among other topics.
It was founded by Philipp Dettmer (born: January 21, 1986), the Kurzgesagt channel appeared on YouTube on July 9, 2013. The first video uploaded was titled “How Evolution works” which was uploaded two days later on July 11. The format has remained largely consistent throughout the channel's existence. The video "What Happened Before History? Human Origins", uploaded on June 23, 2016, was the first on the channel to be in 60fps, a trait that all new videos have since possessed. The channel also allowed user-submitted captions and subtitles, and it is thus common for Kurzgesagt videos to be subtitled in 30 or more languages.
Content[]
The Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell YouTube channel prides themselves on getting subjects in their videos as accurate as they can, their content consists of popular subjects that are happening in the world, from their six current Black Hole Videos, Stellar Engines and even Milk. White Poison or Healthy Drink?. The content that the Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell channel makes is based off from scientific journals, studies and papers, they fact check their scripts with real scientists and professionals that study the subject.
Controversy[]
In 2019, the Kurzgesagt channel was a Patron of YouTuber Exurb1a.[1] Given the criminal case against Exurb1a, actress Sand Van Roy asked Kurzgesagt on Twitter in February 2020 if the channel was still supporting Exurb1a. Kurzgesagt didn't reply.[2]
The Hated One did a video on the connections between various groups which are properly disclosed in the videos.[3]
Milestones[]
Note: The following dates are according to Social Blade. Dates may vary by one or two days due to differences in time zones.
Subscriber Milestones[]
- 1,000 Subscribers: August 2013
- 2,000 Subscribers: September 2013
- 3,000 Subscribers: September 2013
- 4,000 Subscribers: September 2013
- 5,000 Subscribers: September 2013
- 6,000 Subscribers: October 2013
- 7,000 Subscribers: October 2013
- 8,000 Subscribers: October 2013
- 9,000 Subscribers: October 2013
- 10,000 Subscribers: October 2013
- 20,000 Subscribers: December 2013
- 30,000 Subscribers: December 2013
- 40,000 Subscribers: January 2014
- 50,000 Subscribers: January 2014
- 60,000 Subscribers: February 2014
- 70,000 Subscribers: March 2014
- 80,000 Subscribers: March 2014
- 90,000 Subscribers: April 2014
- 100,000 Subscribers: May 2014
- 200,000 Subscribers: August 2014
- 300,000 Subscribers: November 2014
- 400,000 Subscribers: January 2015
- 500,000 Subscribers: April 2015
- 600,000 Subscribers: June 2015
- 700,000 Subscribers: July 2015
- 800,000 Subscribers: August 2015
- 900,000 Subscribers: September 2015
- 1 Million Subscribers: October 2015
- 2 Million Subscribers: April 2016
- 3 Million Subscribers: October 2016
- 4 Million Subscribers: April 2017
- 5 Million Subscribers: October 2017
- 6 Million Subscribers: April 2018
- 7 Million Subscribers: October 2018
- 8 Million Subscribers: March 2019
- 9 Million Subscribers: July 2019
- 10 Million Subscribers: November 2019
- 11 Million Subscribers: March 2020
- 12 Million Subscribers: June 2020
- 13 Million Subscribers: October 2020
- 14 Million Subscribers: Febuary 2021
- 15 Million Subscribers: June 2021
- 16 Million Subscribers: September 2021
- 17 Million Subscribers: December 2021
- 18 Million Subscribers: March 2022
- 19 Million Subscribers: August 2022
- 20 Million Subscribers: Febuary 2023
- 21 Million Subscribers: August 2023
View Milestones[]
- 100,000 Views: August 2013
- 200,000 Views: September 2013
- 300,000 Views: September 2013
- 400,000 Views: September 2013
- 500,000 Views: September 2013
- 600,000 Views: September 2013
- 700,000 Views: October 2013
- 800,000 Views: October 2013
- 900,000 Views: October 2013
- 1 Million Views: October 2013
- 2 Million Views: December 2013
- 3 Million Views: March 2014
- 4 Million Views: May 2014
- 5 Million Views: May 2014
- 6 Million Views: June 2014
- 7 Million Views: July 2014
- 8 Million Views: September 2014
- 9 Million Views: October 2014
- 10 Million Views: October 2014
- 20 Million Views: April 2015
- 30 Million Views: July 2015
- 40 Million Views: October 2015
- 50 Million Views: October 2015
- 60 Million Views: November 2015
- 70 Million Views: December 2015
- 80 Million Views: January 2016
- 90 Million Views: March 2016
- 100 Million Views: April 2016
- 200 Million Views: March 2017
- 300 Million Views: October 2017
- 400 Million Views: May 2018
- 500 Million Views: October 2018
- 600 Million Views: April 2019
- 700 Million Views: August 2019
- 800 Million Views: December 2019
- 900 Million Views: March 2020
- 1 Billion Views: June 2020
- 2 Billion Views: July 2022
Quotes[]
- "Some are bigger than others, so we'll assume we need 3 nuclear bombs to wipe out one city."
- "Gold is very dense, about 20 times denser than a duck."
- "Failed stars are a huge disappointment to their mums."
- "Einstein thought of it first, but then decided it was stupid."
- "Let's drop our nuclear pile in the Amazon Rainforest, just to show nature who's boss."
- "The problem is that people are unreliable."
- ”This is widely considered one of the biggest anime betrayals in evolutionary history.”
- ”A great place for our nuclear test.”
- ”Let’s start this video by throwing a mouse, a dog, and an elephant from a skyscraper.”
- "Most scientific studies project numbers much lower than this."
- "There are 40 billion billion Earth-like planets in the Observable Universe, and you will never visit any of them."
Trivia[]
- The voice actor Steve Taylor has become so popular he is now working full-time for the Kurzgesagt channel and has been named the voice of Kurzgesagt by viewers.
- The founder Phillip Dettmer wrote a book called Immune, which would then get second place in The New York Times in Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction during November 21, 2021.
- Kurzgesagt means "In a nutshell" in German.
- Kurzgesagt was the first German channel to surpass 10 million subscribers.
- Kurzgesagt is the second largest German YouTube channel.
- Kurzgesagt was featured in YouTube Rewind 2019.
- Kurzgesagt viewers often describe the channel as giving them "existential crisis", due to the channel's frequent coverage of the universe and human life.
International Channels[]
Although being previously available only in English, Spanish and German, on May 20, 2022, several localized versions of the Kurzgesagt channel were announced:[4]
- German: Dinge Erklärt – Kurzgesagt
- Spanish: En Pocas Palabras - Kurzgesagt
- French: Tout Simplement – Kurzgesagt
- Hindi: आसान शब्दों में - Kurzgesagt
- Japanese: 世界をわかりやすく – Kurzgesagt
- Portuguese: Em Poucas Palavras – Kurzgesagt
- Arabic: بكل بساطة – Kurzgesagt
- Korean: 한눈에 보는 세상 – Kurzgesagt
References[]
